Application of nanotechnology has been very limited in petroleum industry. However, in recent years, the importance of nano science to develop conventional methods in several branches of petroleum engineering has been highlighted. Despite the considerable surveys investigating different applications of nanotechnology in optimizing drilling fluid rheology in HTHP conditions and reservoir engineering (enhanced oil recovery techniques); far too little attention has been paid to producing these nano particles / additives locally in Nigeria. The petroleum industry has been the mainstay of Nigeria economy accounting for more 90% of our gross earning. The Nigerian Oil and Gas Industry Content Development Act 2010 seek to increase indigenous participation in the Oil and gas industry by prescribing minimum thresholds for the use of local services and materials. Due to the high silica content in rice husk, preparation of silica products is considered to be the most attractive utilization method at present. Amorphous silica is a basic raw material, which has found an increasingly wide market in industries. Rice husk is a well-known, abundant agricultural byproduct in rice-producing countries such as Nigeria. The disposal of rice husk has become a great environmental threat to the land and the surrounding areas where it is dumped. Therefore, recycling the waste and producing high-value materials is not only beneficial to the environment but is also a promising bio-resource technology. In this paper, an optimized process for preparation of nanosilica from rice husk is described. The characteristics of the nanosilica prepared are described and the silica content of the nanosilica reached a record of 94% purity in the method adopted. The nanosilica was further processed to form Silicon ethoxide which is an emulsifier that has its application in the industry. It can be deduced from the results that Silicon ethoxide is considered as a reversible surfactant because of it hydrophilic and hydrophobic nature. These chemical nature and functional group plays an important role in performance characteristic of a reversible mud.
